Fitness is a Craft continued.

Fitness is a Craft Continued

I used to be new to fitness. There was a time I didn’t feel comfortable in the gym setting. There was an instance when I went to lie on a flat bench and missed it. Sadly, that’s not on the list. Today, I will share a handful of mistakes I have made in my own personal fitness practices.

1 Failing to rest.
Before I understood the value of personal wellness I used it for many things, not all healthy things either. Resting appropriately is an essential part of recovery. Learning to rest my body was not easy for me; a stress fracture was my consequence.

2 Working my body but not my brain.
Deciding to be a student of fitness enabled my mind and body to progress together towards the same goal. Learning a new approach to fitness or having a new goal requires thought. Progressions in fitness are equally imperative to wellness as progressions in thought, behavior, and self-awareness.

3 Lack of Flexibility training.
Improving my flexibility helped relieve nagging pains and addressed muscular imbalances I was previously unaware of. Increased flexibility and stretching has proved to be a tremendous tool for mindfulness, injury prevention, and lasting wellness. To keep your workouts going, it is best to stretch appropriately.

4 Stressing out too much
Concerning myself too much with my meals and the times I ate them, tracking how many calories I burned, recording my weight and body fat were all easy mistakes for me to make. Many people can benefit from these tools but for me it became a source of stress to obsess over and that was not conducive to health and wellness. Good numbers never made me healthy.

5 Not enjoying myself.
I learned it’s ok to laugh and have fun. Learning to appreciate the gym helped me create friendships with like-minded individuals and develop an awesome support system. Additionally, having a great time in the gym continually encourages me to implore others to join me.

Fitness requires failures, practice, and patience. Any craft woodworking, music, painting, carpentry, writing etc. They all require the same three things. Nobody was born a guitarist or an artist, the ones that are fluent in their craft had to practice, improve, and eventually become these things. Self-appreciation through fitness, meaning nutritional food choices and physical exercise is a craft anyone can master. It is a choice anybody can make. My suggestion as usual is to choose a single area to improve in consistently. Small, meaningful achievements can lead to permanent positive changes. Understanding our mistakes in fitness is an initiation to long-term wellness. I am happy to share the mistakes I have made both professionally and in my own fitness practices to embody and advocate for fitness. My aim is to embolden any and all to engage fitness as a craft.

Join me in the gym and in wellness.
-Brandon